FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2006

Contact: Katara Williams
Office of Public Relations
P.O. Box 10010
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70813
(225)771-2242 / (225) 771-4374 Fax
www.suagcenter.com

SU Ag Center designs conference to transform community and ministry leaders

BATON ROUGE, LA—Community and ministry leaders have the opportunity to build leadership skills during the 2006 Community and Faith Leadership Development Conference hosted by Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, JP Morgan Chase and the Foundation for the Mid South.

Scheduled for September 27-28 at the Baton Rouge Marriott, the conference is designed to help community and faith leaders transform their community using management skills and fund development strategies.

With a theme of “Transforming Communities Through Visionary Leaders,” the conference will spark leaders to move their organization's visions toward powerful mission statements, to design working programs, and to build ministries that transform lives, says conference organizer Charlette Byrd-Minor, SU Ag Center assistant specialist-community and economic development.

Participants will learn how to apply and register for grants.gov as well as discover the technical and funding resources provided by federal agencies like HUD, USDA, U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Nonprofit Financial Center will also conduct two workshops designed for emerging and mature organizations and ministries.

Leaders interested in attending, should register by September 15 at www.suagcenter.

Nationally acclaimed speaker, Bill Strickland, president and CEO of the Bidwell Training Center and the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, will address conference participants as the keynote luncheon speaker as well lead a workshop session on “Profit Potential for Your Organizations”. HUD’s Director of Faith Based and Community Initiatives, Robert Bogart will prelude Strickland’s address with an update on HUD’s resources for community and faith based organization. Raymond A. Jetson, CEO Louisiana Family Recovery Corps and pastor of Star Hill Baptist Church, will open the conference and share his knowledge and experiences on “Vision Casting” and lead the “Move from Vision to Reality” workshop.

For more information, contact Minor at (225) 771-2242 ext. 315

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